Overcoming & Starting Over

February 1st is a big day for me. While I began walking through an unexpected phase of life prior to this exact date, today I specifically celebrate one year of overcoming being forced out of a situation I didn’t know I needed saving from. One year of trying to conquer my deepest valley and the darkest season of my life. One year of battle, fighting to gain my strength and joy back. One year of suffering through a very emotionally draining experience that sucked the life out of me and even my family. One year of heartbreak, grief, mental and physical exhaustion, and sadness. One year of big changes, scary transitions, too many gut wrenching tears, and learning how to be on my own again.

Never in my life do I want to feel the excruciating heartache and pain again that I felt one year ago today when my husband of almost 3 years, my best friend for almost 8 years… did not choose me, but instead chose a life and future that did not include me in it, and that was the last day I saw him. The details of what I went through months before this and even after this day will remain private-no need to share all the personal details…but I lost my entire world that day. It was flipped completely upside down. And those 48 hours I will never forget. I felt dead inside.

While I still don’t have the answers as to why things like this happen and never will, I do know that God is faithful and His plan for me is much greater than what I ever expected. Somehow, through every battle I fought through the hellhole that was the end of my marriage, through the separation, through the divorce, after the divorce, through the healing… I still had my faith, I still found hope, I still found joy, and I still believed in the kind of love that I know I deserve. I deserve the very powerful UNCONDITIONAL love that I know exists and I know I will get that at the right time. I still believe in the sanctity of marriage- no man will take that away from me. I still believe in my fruitful, fulfilling, bright future. I believe that the ingredients to finding joy after your spirit has been crushed is a lot of: prayer, surrounding yourself with loved ones, positive thinking, and seeing a therapist. I believe I went through all of the things I wouldn’t wish on anyone FOR A PURPOSE. If God wants to use ME for good, to help others through similar challenges or with healing, then I am blessed. I want to be His hands and His heart in any way possible and if pain is what gets me to the next level to really take action and do His work, then bring it on, Jesus! I am resilient AF and that has been a really incredible thing to learn about myself. While I am still healing, repairing my heart, rebuilding my little world of glitter and sunshine, and learning how to survive on my own solely through my faith with the support of my selfless amazing family- I have never been more confident in who I am, in my relationship with the Lord, or so sure of the amazing things I am built for and called to do.

Most of the year I felt ashamed and embarrassed of what happened. I was so happy for so long with this person and then all of a sudden everything changed and while I still had to come to terms with a shocking reality, I also knew people were going to question my situation, judge me for it, and talk about it… while also feeling completely defeated and trying to overcome rejection, abandonment, and betrayal from the one person I trusted most in this world. Then I realized WTF. These feelings all relate in some way and it’s all about feeling the need to have other people’s approval and acceptance. But reality is- this is MY life and nobody cares about MY life as much as I do and I don’t need anybody’s approval but His.

This experience has been humbling and enlightening in many ways. THIS is blooming. THIS is developing the wings. THIS is the climb. If you’re in the same boat as me or maybe just starting to feel that wave about to smack you in the face… you are not alone. But it’s up to YOU to steer the boat, to take that wave to the face like a champ, to fight and never give up. You were meant to be going through the pain, you were meant to experience whatever is happening in your life right now. And you will come out more powerful and joyful on the other side. God will never steer you wrong and will never stop holding your hand. It’s easy to question, “WHY THE HECK is this happening to ME!?”, but we may not understand until something better comes into our lives and makes everything in our past make so much sense. We might not ever understand, but just have to trust the path He has taken us down.

I want to let you in on a special, magical little moment that happened to me on this day last year, something I will always hold close to my heart and hopefully lift someone’s spirits. A God moment. A message clear as day. When I woke up on February 1, 2020, I was alone on the couch in silence and I already had a bad feeling about what the day was going to bring. I turned to my devotional, February 1st. And here was my message…

Need I say more? WOW. Right after that, everything happened, everything changed. My life took an abrupt turn, I was equipped for the strenuous climb, I have been preserved in all my ways, I feel His angels over, and now I know it for sure- “with my God, I can scale a wall.” SO much truth behind that.

Opening up about this life altering season feels freeing in a way. I have held back from being too personal and open with people and on social media since October 2019 when things started to become difficult in my marriage. Then all of a sudden I had to make him disappear, clear him out of my business and my life. It was like everything went from 0-100 and all of a sudden I was hiding a big piece of my heart because it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to share and I wasn’t ready for it. Now it’s on my heart to be more open, connect with those who can relate, support those who need it, and share my story in ways that allow you to really get to know me on a deeper level. Through sharing my story with select people over the past year, one thing I’ve learned is that I am definitely not the only person who has experienced something like this, who has experienced divorce at a young age. Our stories are all different, but we all have A LOT in common- we all got married expecting to be with that person for the rest of our lives and then it ended in disappointment and heartbreak. A lot of us never considered divorce an option, like EVER.  A lot of us feel like the most special and sacred moments of our lives were taken from us. Most of us are just praying we can heal from the trauma and find the really one true love of our lives. We are just human, trying to move on and remain optimistic for our future. We can ALL connect on many different levels, no matter HOW it happened. Friends, don’t be afraid to reach out, don’t be afraid to share your heart with me, because trust me- it’s not easy and writing this wasn’t easy either, but it IS therapeutic and good for the soul. I am here for you when you need someone.

Thank you for reading if you’ve gotten this far, thank you for being a part of my life and my business, and thank you for the support as I am still rebuilding WHILE rejoicing. Hugs to all ❤️

Xo, Remy

A Styled Holiday Wedding

Christmas is only a few days away and I have been saving this stunning, styled holiday wedding for this very moment! I wanted to create an inspiring, romantic, whimsy, Christmas themed wedding styled shoot for a few reasons: One being that I am obsessed with all things Christmas…so duh! Two is that I haven’t been able to let my creativity flow in the past few months because I’ve been so busy sticking to my normal sessions and weddings. I wanted to have some fun with local “friendors” (vendors) and play around with ideas! And lastly, because I wanted to share some winter wedding inspiration for those brides getting married next holiday season. You will definitely see some awesome ideas throughout the blog- you might even start drooling over the portraits! 😉

Between the breathtaking ceremony site, the sweater design in the cake, the candy cane accents, the romantic setting at the sweetheart table, and this BEAUTIFUL couple (who are totally engaged, btw!), this shoot is one for the books! I’m not even being dramatic when I say that it gets better and better and better with each scroll until you hit the end and then you’ll just be angry that it’s over! These vendors knocked it out of the park and I can’t wait for you to check it out!

VENDORS: Floral Design by Rose Avenue Floral Designs | Planning by Honeybee Planning | Cake by Jae’s Cakes | Calligraphy/Invitation/Signage by Letterful | Model + Hair & Makeup by Lindsey Shannon

Showit United 2018 | Remy Thompson Photography

My husband and I took a trip to Arizona recently for a photography conference, called Showit United. It was easily one of my favorite trips we’ve ever been on! We started in Tempe and Phoenix for the first five days for the conference, then we traveled to Sedona and The Grand Canyon for the last part of our trip! Before I get to share some highlights of the trip, I first want to talk more about the United conference.

This was an educational conference with speakers, breakouts, styled shoots, and so much more! I realized I cry more than the average human, no big deal. The speakers were beyond incredible. I felt renewed, inspired, and loved. I met some amazing photographer idols who I’ve followed for yearssss (including Jasmine Star who I got to meet and hug and obsess over)! I got to dress up for a beautiful gala with my hubby, made new friends, reunited with old friends, and grew closer to my dear friend from home. This was SO much more than just a photography conference, friends.

We all have a purpose. I have a purpose. YOU have a purpose.

You are heard, you are seen, you are loved, you are intelligent, you are beautiful, you matter, you are MORE than enough. We all have our valleys and challenges. You are not alone. Be generous, be kind, love hard. Put your mental health first. Give and give some more. Stay focused, be intentional, change your perception, be confident, and make sacrifices.

This is everything I took away from the conference. I mean, this was a photography conference, you guys!… Can you believe that? I feel like it was more of a spiritual journey. Don’t get me wrong, I learned A LOT about how to improve my business… but those are the topics that stuck in my head the most. These are the things that matter most to me. These are the things that will empower me to run a successful business. If I keep working hard towards being a good human, living intentionally, putting others first, and doing the things that make me feel whole, THAT is the only way I can foster this business.

A community that teaches these life lessons is a community I will forever be proud to be a part of. I am so grateful for the opportunity to attend this conference and to have witnessed the support, love, and kindness that it was built on. 

Now moving past the mushy gushy stuff, here comes the fun! This is where the awesome desert photos come in! I had so much fun photographing this stunning couple alongside two alpacas and the beautiful details. I knew I signed up for the “fiesta desert” styled shoot, but the alpacas were the best surprise EVER! 

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Thank you, Raelene for this amazing experience! Vendors listed below–

Host- Raelene Schulmeister Photography

Florals- Bloominous

Cake- Sugar By Tracy

Gown- Bella Lily Bridal


And just for fun, I’ll share some shots I got of Alysha of Blessed Beginnings Photography, Jaimi of Jaimi Bailey Photography, some of my new headshots, and some fun traveling photos!

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xo

Truth About Change

Are you afraid of change? Why is it so freaky to think about? Is it the thought of taking a risk or doing something out of your comfort zone?

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Maybe you need a change in your job, your living situation, from negative people/things… Whatever it is, you know it has to change, but you’re afraid of what comes next.

Maybe you’re afraid of how people would react. Maybe you’re afraid of failing. Maybe it’s because you’re doing something that would make you happier but might let someone else down. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, isn’t it?

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I know the feeling all too well and it’s soooo not easy making big changes. Sometimes the best things you can do for yourself are the hardest decisions to make. Change is good when you know it’s going to make a positive difference in your lifestyle. Change means growth and isn’t that ultimately our goal in life? To grow, to be a better person, to live and learn?

I know I’m not the only one who has heard this one before… “you’ve changed”… I mean come on, that’s so dramatic. Of course, I’ve changed!!!! I want to change. I think I heard this line in context or something similar from middle school to high school, from high school to college, from college to now. There’s always someone who wants to point out how much you’ve changed, even when it’s a good change. Whether it’s about changing your wardrobe, turning down a drink to study instead, hanging out with different people, breaking up with a boyfriend, arguing with your parents, trying new hobbies, sticking up for yourself or someone else, moving somewhere different, starting a new career, adjusting your diet… Ohhh the drama, the horror, the shame!!!! So much change in our lifetime, it really just throws people for a loop, doesn’t it!?

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Here’s the hard truth… The worst part about change is how others react to your own decisions. That’s what makes it really scary. People aren’t always going to approve of your changes because in some cases, they’re just thinking about how it might affect them. Those people who want to prevent you from change don’t do it on purpose. It has nothing to do with the decision you’re making and everything to do with their own fears and emotions. There are always going to be people who want to hold you back from making a change. Not because they don’t want you to do this or that, but because they are afraid of facing their own truth and the changes they need to make but aren’t ready for it yet. They see you making changes and start looking at their own lives in comparison. Sadly, there are always going to be a few people in our lives who don’t know how to let go of comparison and begin to compete or make you feel bad for moving on with your life. Of course, we will always have those people who are the opposite and are genuinely happy about our decisions. Those are the people who will cheer you on and celebrate your success, your new ventures, and your hardest choices in life.

So the next time you’re ready to make a change, remember to be strong and stay focused on the positive. Don’t be afraid to make a change because of what someone else will say, get excited about your future!  A good lesson to take from this is to remember the next time someone close to you is making a change in their life but it might affect your life or emotions, try to be careful about how you speak your mind. Remember how important it is to support and love people through change because facing that is hard enough.

My husband and I have made several big changes and huge decisions since we got engaged 3 years ago- all of which were beneficial to our relationship and our future. This was a topic that we often discussed everytime we found ourselves thinking too much about what everyone was thinking/saying/feeling, instead of putting our happiness first. We struggled with accepting change, but once we made the changes, there was no looking back and we couldn’t have been more proud of those decisions. We were excited about our future, no matter what other people had to say. Sure, it was scary, but we were ready to grow and prosper together. We couldn’t let anyone or anything hold us back from what we knew was the right path for us.

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I write this message in hopes that it speaks to you, inspires you, and gives you the boost you need to make that change you’ve been waiting for. Making changes to your lifestyle doesn’t mean you’re selfish or that you’ve become this totally different person. It means you’re ready to better yourself, to take those next steps into your future, and to do something amazing. Don’t let anyone hold you back from dreaming big. I’m rooting for you, friend!

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xo

FREE GUIDE To Growing Your Photography Business

Stop Waiting and Make It Happen.

Oh, I remember it so clearly. This time last year, I was crying, complaining, and felt defeated. My husband witnessed the worst of it (sorry, Eli!). I had maybe 3 people on the books for the Spring and I was so confused as to why I wasn’t booking more clients. Here I am exactly one year later, and I have an incredible amount of clients on my schedule and I am getting new inquiries almost every day. Normally I would say, “Woah, I don’t know what happened!” But I actually do know… That’s what I’m going to share with you today!

“If we don’t have dreams, what do we have?” I heard this on some random Netflix show I was watching the other day… It spoke to me. If we aren’t dreaming and fighting to get where we want to be, then what are we doing!? It’s time to reach your goals and begin living your dream! YOU are the only one who can make that happen. It all starts with YOU. So, let’s get you going!

Here are some ways to grow your business and start booking more clients from my personal experience! These tips worked for me, but keep in mind it took an entire year to get there. I have practiced, worked hard, tried new things, followed through, and taken chances. I went for it and I made it happen. It’s not going to happen for you overnight, but it will happen over some time and on YOUR time. So stop comparing your business growth to someone else’s because it doesn’t work that way. This is YOUR experience and YOUR story. Soon you are going to stop feeling defeated and start feeling refreshed with a newfound perspective and confidence! 

Grab your FREE DOWNLOAD HERE!

If you’re interested in an educational opportunity with me, check out more information about my “Shades of Pink” Workshop on June 18th!! Find the registration and investment at the bottom of the page! Mentoring is fully booked until the Summer- if you are interested in some one-on-one time, shoot me an email! I can’t wait to hear from you!!

To sign up for my Education Email list, click HERE!

xo

Knowing Your Worth

Do you know your worth…? Have you ever really thought about that before? Have you ever been put to the test about knowing your worth? I always knew what that question meant, but I didn’t know the true meaning of it until I had to step away from all the things I was doing and really take a look at myself. I had to dig deep, I had to be honest with myself, and I had to make some changes.

It feels good to be valued, doesn’t it? But it feels terrible when you’re not. When you are just starting to understand your worth, it can still be hard to make confident decisions about what you’re doing, who you’re working for, or how you’re being treated. After starting my photography business, I had to make some tough decisions. There were times when I just didn’t think I was worth as much as something or someone else, but then I grew to know my value. I have been challenged and tested time and time again. Certain situations and people have come in and out of my life by way of soul-searching and contemplating whether I was adding value or having it taken away from me. There are jobs, moments and people that are put into your life for a reason… they force you to soul-search, test your will, and grow.

I’m sure a lot of you have been in positions where we have felt undervalued and been given unfair circumstances. Let me tell you… I have been there a few times. After a while, it gets tiring. I am all for working hard, going above and beyond, and making a sacrifice for the greater good, but when I don’t get the appreciation or respect I feel I deserve, I begin to feel a lack of value as a whole. After a full year of going full-time as a photographer, I am now confident enough to say that I KNOW my worth. I know what I deserve and I know how I should be valued as a person and photographer. I decided I will no longer give away my hard work, time, and my personal space to a situation that doesn’t create value for both sides. I know that each and every one of you wants to feel that you earn value when you make an investment, and I believe everybody should dig deep to find that source of positive gain.

Now, think about it… Are you also confident enough to say the same? Do you know your worth? It took me a solid year in business to figure it out and I continue to work on it daily; maybe you need some time to figure it out, too. Take a step back, give yourself the time to really think about how far you’ve come in your career. Look at your business and your life. Are you getting what you know you deserve? Think about why you think you should be valued, and the changes you might need to make. Are you making sacrifices that seem unfair? I can tell you now, it’s okay and it’s going to all be worth it in the end. These things happen for a reason… to make you stronger, to teach you how to speak up and stand up. When you’re sacrificing and doing the best you can, you should be so proud of yourself. Just know that the right thing at the right time will be placed in front of you and it will pay off. You are always rewarded in the end.

Sometimes it seems impossible to get out of a situation or lifestyle after being committed to it for so long. I know, I’ve been there too. Weirdly enough, every time I put it in my head that I belong somewhere else or I don’t feel right in a position, I start making natural changes that push me in the right direction and I end up exactly where I need to be. Doing the right thing is never the easiest decision. It takes strength and courage to speak up for yourself and it takes hard work to make your worth a reality. Just know your value and don’t let that slip away from you. When it comes time for a change and you’re ready to step out, that will be your moment. It makes the world of a difference to know your worth and be confident in your strengths.  If you don’t recognize your worth yet, maybe you need to make some changes, or maybe you just need space to grow. It takes time to really know and feel it, but I just wanted to get this thought into your head.

With faith, comes joy.

So have a little faith, do the right thing for yourself, and remember you deserve to be valued and you deserve to be happy!

xo

RTP EDUCATION ANNOUNCEMENT!

WELCOME, PARTY PEOPLE!!!!

Happy March, happy announcement day, happy almost Spring, HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY! The day has finally come! I’ve been waiting to launch this special project since last summer and now I can finally share with you what I’ve been dreaming of!

The secret I’ve been keeping and waiting to announce is…

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FOR BEGINNER-INTERMEDIATE
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS

JUNE 18TH

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AHHHHHH!!!! OH HAPPY DAY, I am so excited to finally share this project with you all! So, tell me, did you guess it? I’m sure a few of you had a pretty good idea of what all this commotion was about. I can’t believe this is happening! The awesome part is that I already announced this to my education mailing list a couple weeks ago and I already have attendees signed up and ready to go!!!! I can’t wait to meet them!

Registration for my very first photography workshop is open to everyone RIGHT NOW! The details are listed below, but I encourage you to visit my website for additional important details including the cost and requirements. Contact me if you have any questions and click the link at the bottom if you’re ready to sign up for the Shades of Pink Workshop! PS- this doesn’t mean you have to like the color pink 😉 I explain the meaning of the title as you keep reading on this page! I can’t wait to hear your feedback and start seeing those names sign-up!

It’s time to take control of your dreams and goals, it’s time to invest in something that can help you move forward and encourage you to keep going. It’s time YOU invest in YOURSELF.

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DETAILS

DATE: Monday, June 18th at 8am-9pm

LOCATION: A cozy, 3-acre, waterfront home in Midlothian, VA

WHO? 12 portrait photographers who must own and have knowledge about a DSLR camera, must be willing to sign an RTP contract and must live outside 50 miles radius from Chesterfield, VA.

INCLUDED IN COST: One full day of educational lessons about in-camera tips and tricks, posing, Lightroom editing, branding, marketing, growing a business, workflow, collaborating, encouragement/real-talk, and so much more! There will be fun indoor and outdoor portfolio-building styled shoots created by incredible local vendors, as well as headshots by Remy, an amazing inspirational guest speaker, snacks, drinks, a light breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

BONUSES: Goodie bags, exciting giveaways, and joining the Q&A RTP Educational Facebook Group to connect with friends, support each other through our journeys, and some quality/one-on-one time with Remy to answer questions!

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
This workshop is customized to your needs of improving your photography skills,  learning more about branding and marketing, growing your business, reaching your goals, and building relationships. It’s time to get out of your comfort zone, create new friendships, take the next step in your business, get productive, be confident, embrace your uniqueness, and start living your dreams. Let’s do some real talk with real people. Let’s create, motivate, encourage, and share our passion with each other!

WHY “SHADES OF PINK”?
If you’ve read my other emails or blogs, you might have noticed my passion for encouraging other photographers to keep going, to embrace the “YOU” behind the business, and to identify what makes their business different from others…
You may have also noticed my love for the color pink! 🙂 I decided to combine my love for both things and create something meaningful out of it. That’s when I thought of different shades of pink… stay with me…

YOU ARE A VERY SPECIFIC SHADE OF PINK.
…Or maybe you don’t like pink so you can replace that with a color that brings you joy! 😉

So here’s what I mean… every time I talk about a shade of pink in the following explanation, replace that with “a photographer” in your mind.

There are a million different shades of pink. There’s hot pink, dark pink, pale pink, and everything in between. Weirdly enough, because I am a pinkaholic, I am only drawn to a very specific shade of pink. I don’t like it too coral looking, I don’t like it too redish, I don’t like it too purpley, I don’t like it neon…I think you get my point! 🙂 Out of all those different shades, that I’m not totally in love with, I still think they’re beautiful in their own way, but they just aren’t a good fit for me. Do you know what I’m trying to say?

The photography industry might feel a bit saturated, but there is one very important thing to remember before we just lose our cool… WE are all different, we are all unique and imperfectly beautiful in our own way. Because of that, we attract different people, we offer different things, we serve our clients differently, we have different styles, we say different things, we run our operations in our way, and we all have something really special to add to the table. We are all a different shade of pink, and we are nothing without the other shades next to us. 

We need to learn from each other to grow, we need to inspire each other to keep moving forward, and we need to encourage one another to be ourselves while living the same dream.  We need to celebrate our differences and keep embracing our own little sparkle!

So think about it… what shade are you? Maybe this workshop is exactly what you need to find out. I want us all to come together, support one another, and discover what makes YOU unique from all the others.

Visit the website for investment and additional details!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!!

YAY! Celebrate and invest in your education with me!
I believe in you, I will always cheer you on, and I can’t wait to meet you!
If you have questions, feel free to send me an email at remybthompson@gmail.com!!
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xo

I Feel It Too

Most people don’t talk about depression, anxiety, broken hearts, or anger all that often on social media. I know I don’t because it’s not something I want to share through my business brand. My brand is happy, cheerful, colorful, bright, and exciting! I want people to see my brand, my website, and my social media and feel joy. That’s why I don’t normally bring up the other feelings when I’m actually feeling them. On a bad day, I usually don’t post on social media at all! I’m a real human though, I’m not a brand… I just built this brand for my business. I have ALL the feels ALL the time. I’m actually an extra emotional human. I take everything to heart, I take everything personally even when it might have nothing to do with me. I feel sadness, I get mad, I get anxiety, I cry, and I feel every emotion just like you. Just because I’m not sharing these thoughts and feelings with social media, doesn’t mean those feelings aren’t there. That’s important for you to know.

I’ll be honest, I’m not always happy and I’m not always doing what I love. I have to do whatever I need to do to survive and build this business. I’m hustling every day and I love what I do, but it’s not always easy. I’ve been given situations time and time again that challenge me in ways that push me to try harder and to be a better person. I learn something new through every emotion and every obstacle. I have nights where I can’t sleep because of the anxiety. I have days where I want to delete my social media. I have things happen in my life that you might never hear about because I choose to keep that private. I don’t think all my specific problems in life should be announced for the world to see, but I do think it’s okay to let you know I feel all the same things as you. I’ve been hurt, taken advantage of, put down, stressed, annoyed, confused, mad, sad, all of it.

I want you to know that I’m not always a confetti throwing lunatic and I have way more going on in my life than what meets the eye. I do however try to turn all my negative feelings into a positive outlook and that’s what I want to share with my followers. I want to spread joy and light to the world. I choose to share happy thoughts, encouraging words, and a colorful life because maybe that’s what someone else needs at the time.

Just know that you are not alone. Next time you see me holding a glass of champagne toasting to a big announcement and you’re over there crying because life is weird when you’re in your 20’s- just remember that’s not real life and I feel it too. Here’s to living a purposeful life day by day. Here’s to discovering our true selves with an open mind and heart, to the imperfections, adversities, and emotions that shape us. To those suffering in silence. Here’s to the people who don’t show it or share it but feel it and live it every day.

xo

A Major Clue About My Education Announcement

Hey party people!!
If you joined my Education Mailing List, then you already read about my big clue! Now it’s time to share it with everyone else!!

Over the last 8 months, I have grown to really love my one-on-one mentoring sessions, like almost too much! After my first mentoring lesson last summer, I knew I wanted to do something more for other photographers who are trying to get their business rolling… something BIG… something different. I learned that mentoring isn’t just about the education. It’s about the guidance, the support, and the love I pour into the relationships with my clients. The girls I have already mentored have become more than a “mentee”, but actually a friend! I LOVE these girls and I am so thankful for the support that goes both ways!

There are so many different phases of becoming a photographer, especially when you’re on the way to full-time. I remember when I was first trying to get my business started, but people weren’t taking me seriously, which made me feel discouraged. I decided to kick that thought and start being my own cheerleader. I pushed myself and decided to invest in more education to take me to that next level. 

When I first started, my goal was to become a wedding photographer, but that didn’t mean I was going to jump into strictly wedding education. When making the decision of where to start and keep growing in education, I knew I had to start with the basics, I couldn’t rush into all the things. I needed to invest in education that would teach me everything I needed to know about portrait photography first, like posing, lighting, camera settings and techniques, marketing, branding… I mean everything! Then, I knew when I felt confident enough in my skills, I would then be ready to take on the wedding world! Through this process, I met other photographers who were there to encourage me, inspire me, and cheer me on throughout the process. That’s truly one of the best parts and it’s so important to have that support system in our industry. Maybe you’re interested in doing the same thing I did, maybe you’re only interested in wedding photography, or maybe you’re only interested in portrait photography- either way, you’re on the right track by coming to my blog, because something so amazing and so special is coming this JUNE and I have a feeling it’s perfect for YOU!

So to sum up the big clue– This IN-PERSON experience I’m offering is for those who want to grow their business and those who want to create strong friendships with women who will encourage them every step of the way. This is for those who want to make that next step because they believe in themselves! I believe in you too, and I will be there to guide you through it all. I’ve been through it all and I want to lift up a team of women who can embrace their differences while empowering each other! We all share the same passion, but we all offer something different and special… now that’s something to celebrate!

 
If you’re interested in joining the RTP Education List, click HERE to sign up! I’ll be sharing my heart, my photography tips, and upcoming exciting announcements! This list will be the first to find out about details, events, secrets, and the first place registration will open up! 

xo

The Real Life Of RTP

Welcome to my world of RTP! Man oh man is it glam! 😉 NOT.

I was living with my parents for a couple months while our new house was getting fixed. It was a Wednesday at Noon. I was in my sweatpants, no makeup on, cuddled up on the couch with my dog, eyes glued to my laptop and my phone was blowing up… my Dad interrupted… “soooooo…. what are you doing?” I said, “working”. I didn’t even think to elaborate, because what does he care? My Dad proceeded to ask, “soooo, like what are you working on?…what kind of work?” I took a second to think about it and I literally couldn’t even put it all into words. I said, “ummmm… just a bunch of stuff”. He probably still wonders how I make a living… But come on, I couldn’t go into detail because he just wouldn’t understand and he would probably fall asleep mid-conversation. Let’s imagine it like this:

“yeah, good question Dad, I’m preparing a client portal and contract for a client I just booked, while culling, editing and uploading images from my last session, and then I have to prepare a blog post for tomorrow…do you even know what that means?…but all that comes right after I create a new website page for my new Senior Rep Team that’s about to launch next week, but I’m really tied up with planning for this big Spring project coming up, I have to get the word out like ASAP, actually nevermind, I think I’ll run to Target soon to buy a cute little gift for the wedding clients I booked over the phone this morning, and that way I’ll kill two birds with one stone by grabbing some items for some flatlay images, omg I just remembered I have a session downtown in a few hours, BYE!”

……….Yeahhhhh. That conversation wouldn’t exactly be too exciting for Dad. So, you know, ‘just a bunch of stuff’ works for me.

It’s possible that there are people who think I’m jobless and just travel around the East Coast wearing pink with glitter smeared all over my face while snapping a few good photos here and there. Truth is, my weeks are usually so crazy my head could explode. I have meetings, sessions, phone calls, contracts to send, a lot of planning and coordinating, marketing, social media posts, editing, delivering, styled shoots, weddings, mentoring, (pizza breaks), creative thinking, blogging, newsletters, website updates, emails, traveling and way too much driving, throwing confetti and popping champagne (duh), giving my time to clients, friends, family, and time for myself. I have a tight relationship with low buns, sweatpants, Target, my couch, my pink blanket, and doggy snuggles. And I’m not even a coffee person…

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The RTP world is allll over the place, but I LOVE IT. To you all, it might look like I have it all together, it’s easy peasy, I can do whatever I want whenever, but it’s so not true. I do all these things while struggling to find the confidence in my business some days. I get shit done even when I feel weak or discouraged. I have to be my own cheerleader when there are days where I just want to give up. I have days when I feel on top of the world and can accomplish anything. I have days when I feel strong and confident. It’s an emotional business rollercoaster. But it’s the rollercoaster ride I created and I get to do this every day. How awesome is that?!

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xo